Doctave vs Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted wikis & documentation options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Doctave | Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | Wikis & Documentation | Wikis & Documentation |
| License | MIT | LGPL-2.1 |
| Language | Rust | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 670 | ★ 300 |
| First released | 2021 | 2002 |
| Replaces | Confluence, GitBook | Confluence, SharePoint |
What are Doctave and Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware?
Doctave
Doctave is an opinionated documentation site generator that builds fast static documentation sites from Markdown files. It includes built-in search, Mermaid diagram support, and live preview without requiring complex configuration.
- Markdown documentation
- Built-in search
- Mermaid diagrams
- Live preview server
Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware
Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware is an open-source platform combining a wiki, CMS, forums, and groupware features in a single application. It is known for having a very large set of built-in features.
- Wiki, CMS, and groupware in one
- Huge built-in feature set
- Forums and trackers
- Granular permissions
Doctave vs Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware: key differences
Doctave is written in Rust, while Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware is built with PHP. Licensing differs — MIT for Doctave versus LGPL-2.1 for Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware. Doctave is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware. Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware is the more established project (first released 2002), while Doctave arrived in 2021. Doctave has the considerably larger community, at 670 GitHub stars versus 300. Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware lists first-class Docker deployment; Doctave does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Doctave if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in Rust
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Watch out for
- Static output only
- Limited theming
Choose Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware if…
- Everything included out of the box
- No add-ons needed for most needs
Watch out for
- Can feel overwhelming
- Interface is dated
Frequently asked questions
Is Doctave or Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware better?
Doctave is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Doctave and Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware free and open-source?
Yes. Doctave is licensed under MIT and Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware under LGPL-2.1. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Doctave and Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware with Docker?
Doctave: check the project docs for container support. Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Doctave or Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware?
Doctave has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.